The Brilliant Laundry Counter DIY That Adds Hidden Storage And Organization

Space is a coveted luxury when it comes to laundry rooms. Between the piles of clean clothes, hampers of dirty linens, multiple cleaning products, and ironing paraphernalia, it's easy to lose track of an organized laundry room if you don't manage to maximize every square inch of laundry space.

But if your shelves and cabinets have been taken over by junk, you may want to try creating a clever DIY hinged laundry counter over your washer and dryer that serves as an extra surface area. In addition to this additional counter space, the design integrates a hidden storage underneath its surface that can help prevent clutter from accumulating in your laundry room. This laundry counter and storage still allows you to access your machine's vents should the need arise. This project calls for a piece of plywood big enough to cover the surface area of washer and dryer, a couple of 2 by 4s for the cleat and supports, regular hinges, a piece of wood for the front of the drawer, trim screws, a circular saw, concealed hinges, and a drill.

To start, measure and prepare your wood materials. Cut your plywood to a size that sufficiently covers the surface area of your washer and dryer. Drill a 2 by 4 foot piece of wood along the wall, keeping it a few inches above the surface of your machines. This will serve as the cleat which will provide support and stability to your laundry counter. Remember that the height between the machine's surface and your cleat will determine the height of your hidden storage space.

Next, attach three evenly spaced hinges along the plywood's edge and connect it to the cleat. To keep the plywood level along the surface of your washer and dryer, install 2 by 4 foot supports on the sides and center of the plywood's underside, double-checking its proper leveling with a surface level tool. To create the front of your storage, measure and cut out a piece of wood that covers the length and height of the hidden storage, ensuring it aligns with the front of your machines.

To access the contents of the hidden storage space, attach the cover to the plywood using concealed hinges. In addition to creating a seamless look between your plywood's countertop and cover, this type of hinge allows the cover to snap up and stay open when you want to grab or return any items in the storage space. This clever nook can be used to store dryer sheets, laundry tablets, folded towels or sheets, or clothes hangers, while detergent bottles or laundry baskets can go on your new countertop.

For the finishing touch, apply a wood stain followed by a polyurethane finish which will give your new countertop a beautiful sheen while protecting the wood from scratches and spills. To keep your machine's vents or power outlets accessible, you may also attach a support chain on the underside of the laundry counter. Use this chain to prop up your counter by attaching it to a mounting hook somewhere along the exterior of your new laundry counter.